Description
Delight in these indulgent Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls, featuring a soft and fluffy dough swirled with a rich cocoa and cinnamon filling, studded with mini chocolate chips, and finished with a luscious chocolate glaze. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, these homemade rolls combine the classic cinnamon roll experience with a chocolate twist that will satisfy any sweet tooth.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Activate Yeast and Make Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine warm milk and active dry yeast. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active. Add granulated sugar, melted butter, eggs, flour, and salt. Mix everything until a soft dough forms. Knead the dough by hand or with a dough hook for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Prepare Filling and Roll Dough: Once risen, roll the dough out on a floured surface to a 16×12-inch rectangle. Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, and cocoa powder, then sprinkle this mixture evenly over the buttered surface. Top with mini chocolate chips.
- Shape Rolls: Starting from the long edge, tightly roll up the dough into a log shape. Slice the log evenly into 12 rolls. Place the rolls into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, ensuring they fit snugly but leaving some space to expand.
- Second Rise: Cover the prepared rolls and let them rise for 30–45 minutes until they become puffy and nearly double in size again.
- Bake Rolls: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 20–25 minutes or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
- Make the Glaze: While the rolls bake, whisk together powdered sugar, cocoa powder, milk (start with 2 tablespoons and add more for desired consistency), and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth.
- Glaze and Serve: Let the rolls cool for about 10 minutes once out of the oven, then drizzle the chocolate glaze over the top before serving. Enjoy warm for the best experience.
Notes
- For extra indulgence, serve warm rolls with a spoonful of Nutella or cream cheese frosting.
- These rolls can be prepared the night before, refrigerated after the second rise, and baked fresh in the morning for convenience.
